Last night I worked late, it was cold and I just wanted something different. Please tell me was eating a cup of cashew chicken (no celery) that bad? It was yummy and I did not eat too many nuts, just a few. My fitness pal charged me less than 300 calories for it and it had lots of Protein.

Am I justifying?

Thanks

I don't think that cashew chicken is bad, unless the sauce has MSG or lots of sugar. Nuts are high in Protein, chicken is high in protein and you ate a small serving of it. Are you supposed to still be on clears or mushies? I remember that you had a small leak, right?

BTW, I asked my surgeon about celery at my visit the other day. He said he's never seen anyone develop a bezoar from raw celery and that I should feel free to eat it as long as I pull out the strings. It's got great Fiber benefits for sleevers, according to him.

Hi Lissa thanks I made sure no MSG. They probably do use sugar did not think about that. I am on all regular food, no leak abscess with second surgery at 2 weeks post sleeve. All going well however , no regrets.

Good to hear about celery. Thanks will keep it as a treat only.

Hope you are doing well also after your loss.

I eat Chinese food all the time. I love it, especially the spicy dishes with chicken and nuts. I almost always avoid the rice, noodles, etc. that I used to eat, simply because I want to enjoy my meal, not squirm in discomfort. I usually start with some Soup, eat a few bites of several different main dishes and maybe even have a bit of someone's spring roll, egg roll or dumpling.

I think that so long as nothing you're eating is a danger to you because of healing, you should be focusing on eating like a normal person. For me, part of having the sleeve was to shake the diet mentality, to finally get over forbidden foods and the binges I'd have as a consequence of denying myself. My approach was and is to focus on keeping my calories at a certain level, to make sure I got at least 80 grams of Protein a day and to keep those carbs restricted but not ridiculously so. I eat about 1200 calories a day now (it's not easy!), average about 90 grams of protein and usually I have about as many carbs as I do protein. I'm happy, I'm maintaining with no problem and I never, ever feel deprived. This is something I can do FOREVER, which is the point.

So, act like a person with no food issues and eat what you like, in moderation. Always keep your eyes peeled for those trigger foods, though. Track it all, whether it's a stick of celery or a chocolate chip cookie and keep within your nutritional goals. You won't be able to avoid losing weight, and you won't have any of the mental baggage that comes with being on a diet. Find that spot for yourself where you continue to lose but also feel happy about what you're eating. We have the sleeve so we can be NORMAL. If we wanted to be on a diet forever, we would have given Weight Watchers or MediFast another shot.

~Cheri

Cheri,

Thank you so much for your post here. Seriously of all the advise, conversations, examples and discussions I have read and participated in for me - you just nailed it. Absolutely on point. I just read aloud to my hubby and he fully agrees.

I am on regular food and definitely needed to hear you here. I do want to be a normal person and this almost feels freeing. I will be successful.

Thanks again for reaching out and sharing. This morning I hit 70 lbs down, and received you words...it is going to be a great day.

Take care,

Sandy

I totally agree with you Cheri. That is my exact reasoning for having the surgery too. I think that feast or famine diet mentality is what got me fat in the first place. I eat what everyone else is eating just way, way less of it.